zilandPeru,butitwasarevelationtometofindtheexcitementwhichwascausedbyhispresenceamongtheriverinenatives,wholookeduponhimastheirchampionandprotector.TheexploitsoftheRedChief,astheycalledhim,hadbecomelegendsamongthem,buttherealfacts,asfarasIcouldlearnthem,wereamazingenough.
ThesewerethatLordJohnhadfoundhimselfsomeyearsbeforeinthatno-man's-landwhichisformedbythehalf-definedfrontiersbetweenPeru,Brazil,andColumbia.Inthisgreatdistrictthewildrubbertreeflourishes,andhasbecome,asintheCongo,acursetothenativeswhichcanonlybecomparedtotheirforcedlaborundertheSpaniardsupontheoldsilverminesofDarien.Ahandfulofvillainoushalf-breedsdominatedthecountry,armedsuchIndiansaswouldsupportthem,andturnedtherestintoslaves,terrorizingthemwiththemostinhumantorturesinordertoforcethemtogathertheindia-rubber,whichwasthenfloateddowntherivertoPara.LordJohnRoxtonexpostulatedonbehalfofthewretchedvictims,andreceivednothingbutthreatsandinsultsforhispains.HethenformallydeclaredwaragainstPedroLopez,theleaderoftheslave-drivers,enrolledabandofrunawayslavesinhisservice,armedthem,andconductedacampaign,whichendedbyhiskillingwithhisownhandsthenotorioushalf-breedandbreakingdownthesystemwhichherepresented.
Nowonderthattheginger-headedmanwiththesilkyvoiceandthefreeandeasymannerswasnowlookeduponwithdeepinterestuponthebanksofthegreatSouthAmericanriver,thoughthefeelingsheinspiredwerenaturallymixed,sincethegratitudeofthenativeswasequaledbytheresentmentofthosewhodesiredtoexploitthem.OneusefulresultofhisformerexperienceswasthathecouldtalkfluentlyintheLingoaGeral,whichisthepeculiartalk,one-thirdPortugueseandtwo-thirdsIndian,whichiscurrentalloverBrazil.
IhavesaidbeforethatLordJohnRoxtonwasaSouthAmericomaniac.Hecouldnotspeakofthatgreatcountrywithoutardor,andthisardorwasinfectious,for,ignorantasIwas,hefixedmyattention